Sunday, May 22, 2011

The kitchen is closed.

It's a bit over a week since Nickelsville moved from my neighborhood - I miss the people and hope everybody is dry, warm and has a full belly, too. Present location of Nickelsville precludes my routine involvement, so now I'm only able to follow on Facebook or through emails, unless I'm as lucky as Lynnda who run into Jarvis on the bus the other day!

So no more direct reports, unless I visit, which I occasionally plan to do - there is no way to actually know how people are, without actually seeing them in their environment. I know Lynnda is planning a visit shortly; she will be in Nickelsville's new neighborhood for something else and plans to drop off some firewood she has and never uses, but they are short of - have you seen that pic Pamela Kliment posted on FB where cardboard is burned with a caption 'needing wood'?

I will try to keep the pages of this blog alive by posting local stories about Nickelsville or issues of homelessness, as i find them.

Here is one very nice, from 'West Seattle Blog', although I loathe the premise of the article - that there is a separate category of people who are homeless, and the authors found one who is, surprise, surprise, just like the rest of us. The truth is the people in tent cities are one of us, and we are one of them; there is no separation.

I'll assume that the authors knew the normal bias mainstream media has when it comes to the homeless people in our culture (quite sick culture of revering the rich no matter how they gained their goods, and blaming the poor people for their misfortune) and decided to work from that angle against the bias; but I'd much prefer if they quit looking for 'special' homeless people and realized our common humanity. With that small complaint, enjoy the article (most comments are refreshingly sane in support of Nickelsville, at least when I looked at them some 12 hours ago):

So you think you know who’s at Nickelsville? Read Mike’s story

May 20, 2011 at 10:22 am | In West Seattle news, West Seattle people | 67 Comments

(EDITOR’S NOTE: Shortly after the encampment that calls itself “Nickelsville” returned to West Seattle a week ago, two longtime WSB Forums members e-mailed with news that another longtime member and WSB site participant, whose many comments have provided humor and history, Mike aka “miws,” was among its newest residents; they helped him get set up there after he was evicted from his Morgan Junction apartment. We have met Mike several times over the past few years; we knew he was struggling, but didn’t know he had become homeless. We were glad to hear they wanted to tell his story, provided he gave his permission, which he did.)

Story by Joanne BraydenPhotos by Kevin McClinticSpecial to West Seattle Blog

On Monday, Mike, who posts on the West Seattle Blog Forums as miws, became a resident of Nickelsville, the tent-city encampment that recently made news as it moved out of a city-provided shelter at old Fire Station #39 and back to an empty field in the industrial area along the Duwamish River at the eastern base of West Seattle, without the city’s blessing.

By Wednesday, Mike had already worked one shift as Security and voted in camp meetings that will determine the future of his new home. He hasn’t just settled in, he has become part of the community, and can’t stop telling everyone how lucky he was that Nickelsville moved back to West Seattle so there was space for him when he needed them.The rest is here...

thank you for stopping by and taking the time to write. my minor 'critique' (i loved your story, which is why i posted it) was probably more reflecting on my own limitations and struggles on how to write about people who are homeless, than anything you did or wrote - apologize if it came the wrong way (i'm not a writer).

i just checked the comment section under your article again, and the response is overwhelmingly positive still - which means that most people read your intent correctly and responded with warmth and support. all the best to Mike and everyone in nickelsville!

that is truly delightful - i'm very happy to read that Nickelsville is getting support they deserve from their new neighbors in west seattle.

p.s. sorry about the drop-box: i landed on blogosphere because i wanted to make a record of nickelsville when they arrived in my neighborhood in 2008 and that seemed to be the easiest way - it allowed me to just post what i thought was largely ignored story back then; several blogs later i'm not that wiser on how the blogger works...

yes, a good hook is essential, especially emotional one, and especially in our world, where one who puts the best ad out, wins:). and wins everything - including hearts and minds. you clearly found a good hook, judging from how well people responded to your writing; good journalism! i'm super happy west seattle is showing to be a good neighbor to nickelsville and you should feel proud to be part of it.

as for this blog, frankly, i didn't quite know why i started it; a bit to the tune 'I hope you're keeping some kind of record' (L. Cohen), because nobody else did... i meant to just leave it hanging on the intertubes as a proof of nickelsville's existence in u-district of 2008/9... oh, well, it's 2011 & i clearly fell into relationship with nickelsville - they keep teaching me something, so i hang around.

best of luck on publishing your new story! is it about nickelsville or something else? SHARE, please.

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HAPPY NEW HOME NICKELSVILLE!

We, the people of Nickelsville will be moving on May 15th 2011, and would invite and welcome all the supporters that can come help us with our move.

We need help loading pallets, tents, bicycles, cooking grills, and people's personal items onto trucks. We mainly need people to stand with us, united together courage and strenght, staying strong with people of Nickelsville.

Our plans must be flexible. It is CRUCIAL you contact us now, so we now who to alert to changes, and who can help. Please contact our staff today and tells them him you will help. Our phone is (206) 450-9136. The email is scott@nickelsvilleseattle.org.

ATTENTION: BARBECUE PROPANE GRILLS NEDDED - after the move on 5/15/11 there'll be no kitchen again, so if you have extra BBQ grill or are about to get a new one, consider donating your old/extra one to Nickelsville. aleks

• You can donate CASH to pay for telephone, garbage, etc; you can mail your (tax-deductible) donation to this address:

Nickelsville P.O Box 2548

Seattle, WA 98111-2548

flowers in front of someone's home

Why this blog?

February 2nd, 2009

i started to cook soup for nickelsville, a tent city for the homeless in seattle, around october 2008. i wanted to learn about the lives of the people there, so i've been coming twice a week to find a volunteer to help me cook. we cook in the nearby lutheran church, put the soup into plastic food bucket and bring it back to the camp.

some of the things i learned surprised me quite a bit: many residents have a job they go to, there a quite a few couples there, two kids were living there before the december snow-storm (went to shelter since), the rules to stay there are pretty harsh to follow, there are several kitten residents. today i saw a tent adorned with spring pansies - it gave me a pause.

this blog has been created for the sole purpose of partially documenting nicklelsville's university-district period: october 08 through march 09.

links:

TO: mayor Nickels & governor Gregoire

DATE: 3/22/2009, Seattle, WA

dear Mayor Nickels and Governor Gregoire,

the tent cities are spreading all across america, and finally even making news in corporate media (cnn recently showed a tent city in sacramento and even Ophra had a show about it). many people in tent cities are victims of the poor economy. they never intended to become homeless but were forced out from their homes and cars into the street. it is very disturbing and sad.

seattle has several tent cities. i urge you to become informed about the topic and bring attention and relief to people in distress who live in them.

i have been involved in nickelsville during its stay in university district october 08 through beginning of march 09. i cooked soup for them on average twice a week. i learned many people staying there had a job to go every day, and some seemed to be in need of social and medical services.

overall - no-one should be without a roof over the head in the richest country in the world (except maybe AIG ceos, who took all the taxpayers money and are now running the show).

i kept a blog while involved in nickelsville, to document what i saw there. please, look; it is here (link to this blog).

i very much hope you fulfill your obligation to serve the people who elected you to be their representative, including people in tent cities!